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Substation technician vs technician

The differences between substation technicians and technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a substation technician, becoming a technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a substation technician has an average salary of $39,335, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.

The top three skills for a substation technician include hand tools, circuit breakers and substation equipment. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.

Substation technician vs technician overview

Substation TechnicianTechnician
Yearly salary$39,335$38,045
Hourly rate$18.91$18.29
Growth rate-1%1%
Number of jobs44,872596,842
Job satisfaction-2
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Average age3740
Years of experience42

What does a substation technician do?

Substation technicians are electrical professionals who are responsible for performing routine maintenance and emergency repairs on electrical substations. These technicians must possess skills in using basic hand tools to install or replace defective parts while assembling or disassembling electrical equipment. They are required to make professional electrical wiring and other repairs to electrical systems so that they can ensure safety to residents and other employees. Substation technicians must also work outdoors to perform maintenance on high voltage equipment that is installed in high and confined areas.

What does a technician do?

Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.

Substation technician vs technician salary

Substation technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Substation TechnicianTechnician
Average salary$39,335$38,045
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $53,000Between $24,000 And $58,000
Highest paying City-San Jose, CA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Microsoft
Best paying industry-Telecommunication

Differences between substation technician and technician education

There are a few differences between a substation technician and a technician in terms of educational background:

Substation TechnicianTechnician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Most common majorElectrical Engineering TechnologyBusiness
Most common collegeNew Mexico State University-

Substation technician vs technician demographics

Here are the differences between substation technicians' and technicians' demographics:

Substation TechnicianTechnician
Average age3740
Gender ratioMale, 97.3% Female, 2.7%Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 7.2% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 3.9% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage3%2%

Differences between substation technician and technician duties and responsibilities

Substation technician example responsibilities.

  • Document all work perform to meet WECC and Nerc Cip compliant requirements.
  • Diagnose, repair and replace monitoring and control systems, hoisting equipment, and overhead cranes.
  • Check and refill SF6 on circuit switches.
  • Use ladders and Ariel Lifts/Trek-Lifts when need.
  • Perform NERC compliance relating to system protection.
  • Assist with SCADA installation and wiring at each substation.
  • Show more

Technician example responsibilities.

  • Achieve multiple ASE certifications within first year of employment.
  • Implement and manage UHF radio base stations, repeaters, and command network, effectively linking all regional headquarters.
  • Manage telecommunications installation and repair for hospital Nortel network.
  • Maintain numerous automate scripts to assist in managing Linux systems.
  • Manage, troubleshot and repair multiple wireless technologies including fiber optic transmission switches.
  • Install peripherals including printers, fax machines, scanners, and smartphones.
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Substation technician vs technician skills

Common substation technician skills
  • Hand Tools, 13%
  • Circuit Breakers, 12%
  • Substation Equipment, 11%
  • Safety Rules, 10%
  • Loaders, 8%
  • Switches, 7%
Common technician skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 6%
  • Diagnosis, 5%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 4%

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